Unique Characteristics Of Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet Sauvignon wine is known for having a dark color, full-body and the alcohol content is more than 13.5%. The Cabernet produced in areas like Australia, Chile, and California has 14.5% alcohol content and sometimes can go over 15%!
This type of wine is dry and has a good amount of tannin, which makes your mouth dries out when you sip it and has a typical mouthfeel. Some people drinking Cabernet choose the one with green pepper taste, along with cassis, tobacco and dark fruits like cherries, a bit of vanilla that comes from the oak.
What Pairings With A Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
Wines produced with cabernet sauvignon, such as Bordeaux wines, are perfect with red meat plates, such as a piece of beef served with roasted potatoes or green beans. And for the veggies, dont panic! Red wines are perfect with vegetables too. You can try it with a courgette or pumpkin gratin with a Médoc wine for instance.
Food Pairing With Cabernet Sauvignon
Because of the acidity, alcohol and tannins content of Cabernet Sauvignon wine, it needs to be drunk with food and all Cabernet is a wine that will taste better if drunk with a particular group of foods.
We all know that it is a versatile wine and pairing it with different foods is better. The robustness and flavor profile of Cabernet Sauvignon lets it stand up well against the complex and rich dishes such as ragout. The best match for this wine is red meat. Venison, tagliata or braised beef will also go well with the red wine, but pairing will depend on the simplicity of the steak aside from these meats, chocolate and Coonawarra Cab also pair well with the wine!
If you are looking for the perfect match for a mature cheddar, the Cabernet Sauvignon is the best choice. The wine will taste well with other hard types of cheese. Manchego, Gruyere or a Red Cheshire will go well with this punchy red wine.
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Best Overall: 2016 Chteau Pape Clment Pessac
Region: Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France | ABV: 14% | Tasting Notes: Cherry, Black truffles, Tobacco
Its hard to overstate the brilliance of the 2016 Château Pape Clément. The bottle is named after Pope Clement V, who owned the vineyard when he was just a scrappy upstart Archbishop of Bordeaux in the early 14th century, meaning the vineyards been in operation for over 700 years. Operated by esteemed French winemaker Bernard Magrez, this cabernet is a liquid luxury thats impossible to resist .
Complex and beguiling, this wine boasts a diverse flavor palate of dark fruits, cherry and fig, along with black truffles, forest floor, tobacco, and mocha and vanilla-tinged oak spices. It’s medium to full-bodied with fine-textured tannins, silken fruit and a long, elegant finish. In a word, exquisite.
The Origin Of Valdichiana Wines
In Etruscan times, Valdichiana, an area which presently stretches along the Southeastern part of Tuscany up to the Florence-Rome road ramification, was called the “Breadbasket of Etruria”. However, its hills were already dotted with vineyards. Later on, Plinius the Elder would describe the quality of these wines as follows: Talpone and Ethesiaca . This was a vine growing culture spreading over the hills of the Tuscan part of Valdichiana surrounding the important commercial centres of Foiano della Chiana, Lucignano, Cortona, Montepulciano and Arezzo. The importance given to this economical activity was confirmed in the following years in successive stages in the writings of the Bishopric of Arezzo. “Valdichiana Champagne”. During the 1800s, the merchants of Bourgogne and Champagne decided to use the wines of Tuscan Valdichiana due to their renowned quality as a base for their champagnes after the phylloxera or vine-pest had destroyed their vineyards.
The wine making tradition was enriched and endorsed in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the DOC guarantee of origin recognition thanks to the effort of few noble families such as Della Stufa and Mancini Griffoli .
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The Sommeliers Guide To Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon Is a Robust, Full Flavored Wine Fit for a King
Cabernet Sauvignon has the honor of being the worlds most widely recognized wine. Thanks to the robust nature of the vine, virtually every country that produces wine is capable of making Cabernet Sauvignon, from places in North America to regions in Australia.
Cabernet Sauvignon is well known for its firm tannins and full and rich taste, including such notes as blackcurrant, as well as woodsy flavors, such as cedar, oak, and herbs. The wine also contains great potential for aging, thanks to its high rate of tannins and perceptible acidity.
What Does Cabernet Sauvignon Taste Like
Cabernet sauvignon is famous for its green bell pepper flavor, which comes from a compound called pyrazine. But cabernet also features other distinct flavors. On the nose, cabernet is quite bright, which tones down fruit flavors and overly sweet notes. Common cabernet sauvignon aromas and flavors include:
- 1. Blackcurrant
- 12. Eucalyptus
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Vineyards And Grape Varieties
There are over 200 small vineyards totaling only app. 1,500 acres of wine , divided about ¼ evenly among , , , and other varieties . The region’s vineyards and wineries actively support sustainable practices, including , control, , solar, . Several vineyards grow presently four are certified organic by the CCOF and more are in the process of certification.
New World Wine Styles
While Californian winemakers do craft wines in more “Old World” or European wine styles, most Californian wines favor simpler, more fruit dominant . The reliably warm weather allows many wineries to use which creates a more rather than earthy or mineralic style of wine. It also creates the opportunity for higher with many Californian wines having over 13.5 percent alcohol content. The style of Californian Chardonnay differs greatly from wines like with Californian winemakers frequently using and aging to make buttery, full bodied wines. Californian Sauvignon blancs are not as herbaceous as wines from the or and are more acidic. Some Sauvignon blanc are given time in oak which can dramatically change the profile of the wine. Robert Mondavi first pioneered this style as a Fume blanc which other Californian winemakers have adopted. However, that style is not strictly defined to mean an oak wine.
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The Best Regions For Cabernet Sauvignon
Bordeaux is the most popular region for Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly the Left Bank. Another big Old World player for the grape industry in Tuscany. For the New World, California particularly Napa, played a significant role in the grapes popularity. Regions in Chile, Washington State, and Southern Australia also have a significant role in the popularity of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Currently, Cabernet Sauvignon is the worlds most planted wine variety covering 341,000 hectares worldwide.
Here are the top Cabernet Sauvignon regions:
France
There are over 55,000 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon in France, which makes France the worlds largest producer of this variety. Most of the plantations are in its native region, Bordeaux. Furthermore, the variety is also quite present in the southwest part of the country, in particular, the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
United States
California is the largest producer of Cabernet Sauvignon in the United States. The state of Washington is second with more than 20,000 hectares of this variety.
The 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting event was the turning point for the Californian Cabernet Sauvignons. It was during this competition that they took the world by surprise as they beat out renowned Bordeaux wines.
All the judges were wine experts from France, and all had to taste the wines blindfolded. Not just the Californian Cabernet Sauvignon, but the entire American wine industry received a massive boost.
Italy
Australia
Chile
Argentina
China
What Type Of Wine Is Produced With The Cabernet Sauvignon
This grape variety produced tannic wines with a nice structure. In most cases, these wines have a great alcohol-acidity balance, which can assure it a good cellaring potential.During its youth, wines from cabernet sauvignon are more likely to be fruity with black fruits flavours, in particular blackcurrant, blackberry or strawberry.When it gets mature, it becomes more complex, keeping the fruity notes but developing new notes such as spices aromas or cedar aromas.
Piece of beef to enjoy a glass of cabernet sauvignon
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Whats The Difference Between Cabernet Sauvignon And Merlot
Cabernet sauvignon and merlot are intertwined, in part, due to the famous Bordeaux blend. Both blend nicely with other grapes, too, hence furthering the confusion. Cabernet and merlot are, however, different grapes, each with their own strengths.
The key differences between cabernet sauvignon and merlot are:
- 1.Merlot is fruity, while cabernets strong tannins give it a bitter edge.
- 2.Merlot sweetens dry wines, while cabernet dries sweet wines.
- 3.Both cabernet sauvignon and merlot age well in oak, however merlot must be picked immediately to prevent overripening.
In Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon and merlot battle for predominance in Bordeaux blend wines. In Left Bank regions like Saint-Estèphe and Pessac-Léognan, cabernet forms the majority, while merlot rules combinations from the Right Bank. Soil is the primary reason for the split: winemakers on the Left Bank successfully cultivate cabernet on their gravel-based soil, while the Right Bank merlot vintners benefit from the clay and limestone composition in their soil.
Different Styles Of Cabernet Sauvignon
As with many different types of wine, the two major styles are defined and differentiated predominantly by where the wine is produced. Old World wine has very particular characteristics that are made during the production process, and likewise, New World wine follows a slightly different process that creates different notes and perhaps, more importantly, different secondary and tertiary aromas.
Fact: Old World wine is a wine that is grown and made somewhere where wine has been made for over 400 years. This means places in Europe, like France, Italy, and Germany, and also places in Northern Africa and even in the Middle East. New World wine is a wine that is grown and produced in a place that has been producing wine for less than 400 years. This can include places such as North America and Canada, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Old World Cabernet Sauvignon / Early Harvest
Old World / Early Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon is most typically from Bordeaux, and as we all know, makes up a key component in the famous Bordeaux Blend. The flavors of this wine will be relatively vegetable-like- thanks to the pyrazine chemical that is found in the wine. This is because the harvesting tends to happen relatively early in the season.
New World Cabernet Sauvignon / Late Harvest
Blended Harvest
Vintages
Young Cabernet Sauvignon
Aged Cabernet Sauvignon
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Cabernet Sauvignon: The Ultimate Guide
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular wine varietal in the world. It is grown in almost every wine-growing region on the planet and is often used in blended wine- including the famous and exclusive Bordeaux blend, among others.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the child of two already famous grape varietals, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc- so you might say that it was destined for greatness. This variety has been around since around the 17th century.
This article will cover almost everything that you have ever wanted to know about Cabernet Sauvignon, including its characteristics, its history, the climates in which it thrives, how to pair it with wine, and even our go-to recommendations for a great bottle of the varietal.
The Brief History Of Cabernet
Ironically, if you were to look at it on a timescale starting when humans first tried wine Cabernet Sauvignon hasnt been around that long. It was stumbled upon during the 17th century in Southwestern France, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc were mingled together to form a new grape variety. .
While centuries of wine production in Bordeaux helped launch Cabernet to fame over time, other regions like Napa Valley have helped bring it to the forefront of the new world as a single varietal red wine. Many Bordeaux winemakers are known for blending Cabernet Sauvignon with other varieties, such as Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
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Finding Quality Cabernet At A Good Value
Cabernet Sauvignon is often the most expensive wine youll find at your wine shop or grocery store, especially if you have your eyes on a Bordeaux or Napa Cabernet. Dont be scared away by the high price tag of these wines and think all your Cabernet hopes are lost. Good quality Cabernet can be easily found in regions such as Californias Central Coast, Languedoc-Roussillon in France, and Curicó Valley in Chile. Youll be paying a lot less for these wines and still enjoying Cabernets complex and intense features.
How Do Cabernet Sauvignon Wines Taste
Pure Cabernet Sauvignon wines are full-bodied with high alcohol contents of up to 15%. They have medium acidity, medium to high levels of tannins, and intense flavors of red and black fruits.
Young wines often are very tannic and thus taste very harsh. But when they age, the tannins slowly soften and make the wine more enjoyable. For that reason, oaking is a common practice, especially among winemakers who aim to produce high-class wines. Oak-aging does not only soften the wine it also adds exciting spicy and earthy flavors, such as vanilla, tobacco, or leather. In sum, these changes result in a more complex and more balanced structure.
Its origin has a significant impact on the wines taste. If it comes from a colder region, the grapes might not have the chance to ripen fully before the weather incites the need to harvest. In this case, the wine likely features notes of green vegetables.
In wines from warmer regions, the aromas of black fruits such as plum, black cherry, cassis usually are more dominant.
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The Green Bell Pepper Flavor
There are a couple of noted Cabernet Sauvignon flavors that are intimately tied to viticultural and climate influences. The most widely recognized is the herbaceous or green bell pepper flavor caused by pyrazines, which are more prevalent in underripened grapes. Pyrazine compounds are present in all Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and are gradually destroyed by sunlight as the grape continues to ripen. To the human palate this compound is detectable in wines with pyrazine levels as low as 2 nanograms per liter. At the time of veraison, when the grapes first start to fully ripen, there is the equivalent pyrazine level of 30 ng/l. In cooler climates, it is difficult to get Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to ripen fully to the point where pyrazine is not detected. The green bell pepper flavor is not considered a wine fault but it may not be desirable to all consumers’ tastes. The California wine region of Monterey was noted in the late 20th century for its very vegetal Cabernet Sauvignon with pronounced green pepper flavor, earning the nickname of “Monterey veggies”. In addition to its cool climate, Monterey is also prone to being very windy, which can have the effect of shutting down the grape vines and further inhibiting ripeness.
The Top Cab Is Is The 2016 Chteau Pape Clment Pessac
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Liquor / Chloe Jeong
From its ancestral homeland in southwest France, to the sun-drenched vineyards of California and Washington, to emerging footholds in Tuscany, Australia, and South Africa, cabernet sauvignon stakes a fair claim as the most beloved wine grape in the world. A recent study revealed that it’s now the world’s most widely-planted grape variety, up from fourth place as recently as 1990 .
Besides consumer preference shifting toward so-called “varietal” wines, another cause for cabernet sauvignon’s meteoric rise is that its relatively easy to grow the grape berries are known for their thick skin and natural ability to flourish in a wide range of climates. More important than its ease of cultivation, however, is the fact that cabernet sauvignon is simply delicious. Bold and sturdy, with satisfying dark fruit flavors and big tannic character, its a crowd-pleasing favorite that’s almost never absent from a restaurant wine list .
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Organoleptic Characteristics Of Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
Il Cabernet ha un colore rosso rubino intenso con riflessi porpora e diventa granato con linvecchiamento
COLOR OF THE CABERNET SAUVIGNON WINE: vinified in purity, Cabernet Sauvignon gives rise to a wine of a very intense ruby red color, often impenetrable, with purplish, almost blue nuances.AROMAS OF THE CABERNET SAUVIGNON WINE: Cabernet Sauvignon is a decidedly exuberant grape with aromas of strong identity. It has a complex nose with characteristics reminiscent first of all of aromas of red and dark pulp fruits such as blueberries, black cherry, plum, blackberry and black currant, but also traces of undergrowth such as moss and rocks .These aromas in some cases integrate wonderfully with notes of pepper and crumpled tomato leaf, inherited from Sauvignon Blanc, the so-called pyrazines, which emerge especially when Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in cool climates. The aging in wood of Cabernet Sauvignon allows an evolution of the aromas towards bewitching tertiary, balsamic and spicy notes, such as eucalyptus, mint, tobacco, roasted coffee and bitter cocoa.
What Kind Of Wine Is Cabernet Sauvignon
This is undeniably the most famous red wine in the world. While it tends to take on some differing characteristics depending on the terroir in which it is grown, the characteristics of this red wine remain consistent and red wine lovers know that they will be getting a full-bodied wine with firm tannins and a wide range of aromas and flavors to savor.
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